Method of cleaning pile fabrics



Aug. 25 1931. s. CHASE. 4TH 1,820,048

METHOD OF CLEANING FILE FABRICS Filed March 18, 1935 x izderaz or" Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED ATES STEPHEN CHASE, 4TH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE AS retains PATENT orrica SIGNMEN'IS, TO CHASE MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS METHOD OF CLEANING FABRICS This invention has to do with the cleaning of carpets, rugs and analagous pile fabrics, and contemplates in particular a wet as distinguished from a dry treatment in the initial stages to remove the dirt and dust bodily imprisoned within the fabric, coupled with a later cleansing operation to remove discoloration. p In cleaning pile fabricsof the character ,10 described, it has been the practice to beat the dirty fabric before washing it, whereby to remove a substantial part of the loose dirt in the form of dust. The beatingoperation has always been unsanitary owingto 15, the difliculty experienced in attempting to control the dust when leaving the fabric, but has been employed because it was thought to be the only effective way in 4 which the sand and other grit present in 20 the dirt in the fabric could be removed before the washing operation. 7

' The object of the invention is to provide an improved method of cleaning pile fabrics, in accordance with which the fabric is beaten or vibrated in a wet condition prior to the washing operation.

While the foregoing statement is indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention, other objects and advantages will be evident to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the method.

- In the accompanying drawing is shown rather schematically in a single View a form of apparatus which may be employed in practicing the method. It will be understood, however, that the method is not limited to use only in connection with the form of apparatus shown, but is susceptible of employment with other quite difierent forms. It will also be understood that the method is not restricted to the inclusion of all of the intermediate steps hereinafter described in the presentation of the exemplifying embodiment.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawing includes two sets 10 and '11 of continuously moving endless chains, and the carpet 12 or other pile fabric to be cleaned is fed in between the chains at 13, the carpet as-.

suming an outsprcad position between chains with the pile side up. I

The chains carry thecarpet first downwardly at an inclination at 14, then horizontally a short distance at 15 and then upwardly again at an inclination at 16 suitably arranged rollers 17 being used to guide the chains and carpet in such move ment. As the carpet moves downwardly at 14, water or othersuitable liquid is directed onto the same from a conduit 18 and the water thus applied to the'carp-et forms in a puddle thereon at 15, where it is thoroughly worked into the pile by a revolving brush 19. The -gritand dust embedded in and encrusted about the pile is as 'aconsequence loosened and converted into the form of mud, but remains in and on the pile as the carpet moves upwardly at 16. A suitably drained pan 20 is located below and about the depression through which the carpet moves at 15, and serves to catch the overflow of water from the puddle on the carpet at that point.

After leaving the zone or the brush 19, the carpet is carried around a roller and upwardly again at a reversed inclination, at 21, and, duringsuch movement, a rapidly rotating beater22 acts against the back of the carpet, preferably through an interposed protective sheet 23, which sheet is tastened along one edge to a support 2a and is maintained in an outspreatl position under the beater and against the back of the carpet by the movement of the latter. is thus vigorously beaten and vibrated, and a good part of the mud 011 and in the pile is thrown out.- A suitable drain pan 25 is located opposite the beater 22, and. serves to catch the material discharged from thec'ar- The carpet ried around a roller and downwardly at an inclination, at 28, and, while the pile 1s again spread apart in passing around the roller, more water or other liquid is directed into the pile irom a conduit 29; As the water flows downwardly in the :spread pile,

c it is thoroughly Worked into and about the base of the same by a second revolving brush 3'0", and is thereafter discharged into a'su'i'tably drained'pan 31, 7

During the downward movement of the carpet at 28, a second -rapidly rotating beater 32 acts against the back of the same, preferably through a sheet33 similar to :the sheet 23, and the carpet is again beaten and vibrated, which treatment causes practically all of the remaining mud in the pile to be thrown out into the pan 31.

After the second beating operation, the carpet is carried through a tank 3% which is filled with a cleaning solution, such as liquid soap.- lVhile the carpet is immersed in the solution, the pile is gently worked by a slowly rotatingbrush-35, and the'solution is as a consequence brought into contact with'all portions ofthe pile.

From the tank 84 thecarpet iscarried-upwa'rdly atan inclination and deposited by' the chains 10 and 11 onto a moving table -36,"where a washing operation is performed on the carpet by an endless series of brushes 37, which brus'hes move in thesame direction as the table at a 'slightly greater speed with adjoining brushes reciprocating transversely'in opposite directions. The brushes 37 not only serve to massage the 'pile'thoroughly, but act with the table 36 to feed the carpet forwardly, thus eliminating the necessity of clamps in connection with the table, and permitting carpets of irregular shape t0' be handled with'the same facility as those of rectangular shape.

A washing apparatus such as described forms the subject matter of the copending application of George H. Palm, Serial No. 55,434, filed Sept. 10,1925. Only'the end portions of the table 36 and the series of brushes 37 are shown, the interposed portions and the brush 'operating'mechanisms being omitted. The particular washing-apparatus shown and described does'not form any part of the present invention, and'many other forms of apparatus might instead be used for effecting the washing operation.

Inleaving thetable 36, the carpetpasses around a roller of the table, and water is directed into the spread pile from a conduit 38, as a :result' of which the lather from the soap 7 is thoroughly rinsed out of the pile. The-carpet is then fed between-two wringer rolls 39 and 40,where'most of theresidual waterin the pile is pressed out-of the same. From the wringer rolls 39 and 40, the carpet may, i if :desired, :be fed onto a. conveyor 41 which leads to a suitable drying apparatus.

When a carpet or other pile fabric to be cleaned is treated in accordance with the method of the invention as above described, the dusty preliminary step of beating out the loose particles of dirt is eliminated, and the entire cleaning treatment is materially expedited "andsimplified.

It will beappreciated that-the method of the invention is not limited'in its application to theinclusion of all of the details and intermediate steps necessarily described in fabric .on the back: subsequenttortheWtting to dise'nage wetted dust and dirt therefrom, and subsequently washing the fabric to removerremaining dirt; 5 f

' 2. A method of cleaning pile fabrics which comprises first wetting, the 'fabric to prevent escape of'dry dust therefrom, then working wetting fiuidzinto'the pile side of the vfabric to wet the dust-'and dirt,,then beating the fabricito remove dirtlin'its wetted condition, and subsequently washing the iabric to remove remaining dirt.

3. Almethod'of cleaning ipile fabrics which comprises first wetting the dirt in the fabric to prevent its releaseitherefromin'the form of-dry dust'then vibrating'the wet fabric to dislodge wet dirt therefrom, andsubsequently washing the fabric to remove :remain'ing dirt. v

,4. "A method-of cleaning pile-fabrics which comprises wetting the dirt in the =fabric to prevent its-escape therefrom in the "form of dry dust, then vibrating :the 'fabric to dislodge wet dirt therefrom, then separating the ;pile of'the fabric and brushing it while separated, "and subsequently washing the fabric to remove remaining dirt.

5. vA method of: cleaning pile :fabric which consists in progressively advancing the outspread fabric while-(guiding it in directions to shape portions in trough-like form, flooding the pile side in the trough-like area with liquid, and then vibrating the fabricafter it has passed beyond the floodingzone, to dislodge wetted dirt. i j

6. A method of cleaningpile fabric which comprises progressively advancing the outspread fabric, guidingit in a trough-like 'form in a portion of its course, applying liquid to thefztbric at a point where the liquid will collect on the fabric in the'troughconnection with theexemplification above THO STEPHEN CHASE, IV. 

